Sustainable Architecture
The L2e team has managed energy audit work for various housing authorities including Housing Authority of Champaign County and the Peoria Housing Authority. The goal in the projects was to reduce the housing authorities yearly operating cost with regard to energy consumption. Various strategies were identified and implemented given the housing authorities budgetary constraints.
The L2e team has prepared Technical Assistance Reports that present the results of comprehensive energy audits and identified ECM’S, Energy Conservation Measures. Energy costs can comprise one third or more of a low-income families’ expenses. By including energy efficiency as a rehabilitation standard both energy cost saving and extended life of housing stock are realized. Pursuing both rehabilitation and energy conservation requires a high degree of coordination. .
While each situation and building type requires unique attention, the following are some of the areas where energy conservation measures have cost-effective impact:
- Air infiltration, weatherstripping
- Balancing of systems
- Water heaters
- Air conditioners
- Boilers
- Lighting systems
- Ceiling heights
- Insulation
- Energy efficient windows, storm windows
- Window treatment such as interior or exterior shades
- Planting to add shade in summer and deflect winter wind, etc.
- Lighting choices and placement
- Use of rehabilitation materials and methods of installation
- Caulking, and wrapping of pipes
- Heat recovery systems
- Furnace tuning or replacement
- Humidity controls
- Flue inspections and modifications for efficiency
- Time clocks, reset controls, limit switches, zoning, etc.